Celestyal hit the 10-year milestone in style, bringing together key executives from the UK and Australia in Sydney to outline bold plans for the future. With record-breaking growth and major investments, the cruise line is charting an ambitious course ahead.
“This market just goes from strength to strength for us,” Chief Commercial Officer Lee Haslett told guests.
He reflected on a decade of evolution, expansion into new waters, and a record-breaking 2024. “We carried the most guests we’ve ever carried, with our highest occupancy, and it was a record from a revenue perspective. It’s given us a great foundation to grow from.”
And grow it will. Celestyal has big plans, with further fleet expansion news coming soon. For now, the focus is on a fresh approach to distribution in Australia, significant ship refurbishments, and a shift to year-round cruising.
New faces, bigger ambitions
Celestyal has revamped its Australian distribution team, with Ascend Travel Group Directors Julie Primmer and Lynda Wallace (the cruise line’s local industry representatives) now leading the charge alongside Australian Business Development Manager Mary Williams. “They’re legends of the travel industry,” VP for Business Development Janet Parton called them.
Parton also confirmed a major shift in operations: Celestyal is now sailing year-round. Historically, the line operated from March to November, but its first winter deployment in the Arabian Gulf was so successful that it’s here to stay.
From December 2025, two ships will be based in the region:
- Celestyal Journey sailing 7-night itineraries from Doha
- Celestyal Discovery offering shorter 3- and 4-night cruises from Abu Dhabi, now with Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah added to the mix
The Gulf isn’t the only place getting more Celestyal sailings. The Heavenly Adriatic itinerary, a hit with Australians, is expanding from one departure in 2024 to ten in 2025. Meanwhile, repositioning cruises from Athens to Abu Dhabi will launch in November, with one sailing timed perfectly for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
More ships, more cabins, more upgrades
Celestyal’s ships aren’t just sailing more; they’re getting serious upgrades. Celestyal Discovery is currently in dry dock undergoing what Parton called “open-heart surgery,” emerging with 47 new cabins, including Grand Horizon Suites with floor-to-ceiling windows and aft-facing suites with expansive ocean views.
“The ship itself has actually been lengthened,” she added. “It’s amazing what they can do.”
Meanwhile, Celestyal Journey recently wrapped up another round of enhancements after an earlier multi-million-euro refurbishment.
Combined with high customer service scores, these investments position Celestyal as a strong player in the premium cruise market.
Booking just got easier
The new Celestyal One model is an easy, no-nonsense fare structure. It now includes meals, entertainment, Wi-Fi, and select drinks as standard. Plus, a new ‘Celestyal Pay’ system allows guests to pre-purchase onboard credit, earning bonuses up to €250.
“It’s a great product for travel agents to sell in advance,” Parton said, as the fully-commissionable feature makes it a win-win.
